Boosted Proposals Negatively Impacting My Ability to Filter and Vet Freelancers

[a_lipsey]

As a client this feature is not helping me find the most qualified freelancers. It is really just negatively impacting my ability to adjust the filtering to show me the most recent applicants or to sort by other categories. When I try to filter by newest so I can see and respond to the most recent ones, it keeps the boosted proposals on top, even though I've already both shortlisted those two and responded, and so I have to scroll down even further to see new proposals. I don't care who has boosted their post. I am looking for the best fit, not who paid to annoy me in my filtering ability. 

I understand why freelancers would think this would be useful, but whether or not the proposal is boosted is not going to impact my vetting and selection of a consultant. I look at each of the proposals and vet them based on specific criteria. And where they show up in the list is not part of that criteria. I think most discerning clients would agree. When you force these boosted proposals on top, it means I have to scroll more and makes it harder for me to organize who I've looked at and who I haven't.

Please remove this feature and just let me select freelancers based on how I want to select them. Also, the best match is ridiculous still. I posted for a health coach, and I didn't select any skills related to business coaching, but none of the health coaches are best matches, and all of the business coaches are best matches. 

[tlsanders]

It's true that some options labeled best match based on a very rudimentary algorithm used to show up at the top. I would be surprised to find many clients saying that they were indeed the best matches.

[67ef2315]

boost system is a very bad system.

[b9e08799]

Absolutely agree with you Amanda. The feature with boosting proposal is useless. Inspite the fact that freelancers pay more for that places on top of the list it doesn't mean that they possess the required skills. 

I have several job postings and each time I try to evaluate the candidates among the boosted proposals I find out that none of them fits to my requirements. But I'm not sure that Upwork will remove this feature as it's just their additional way to get more income. 

[a_lipsey]

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Thomas M wrote:

Absolutely agree with you Amanda. The feature with boosting proposal is useless. Inspite the fact that freelancers pay more for that places on top of the list it doesn't mean that they possess the required skills. 

I have several job postings and each time I try to evaluate the candidates among the boosted proposals I find out that none of them fits to my requirements. But I'm not sure that Upwork will remove this feature as it's just their additional way to get more income. 

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Thank you, Thomas. I would much prefer Upwork allow us more advanced filtering features in sorting proposals. But no, I think it's here to stay as well, it's a money maker, and fortunately it is only one of many minor inconveniences in the UI for clients. But there will be a tipping point eventually.

[9ea40837]

I am a new freelancer and I am so in agreement with the removal of the boosted feature.  Most times it's the one with the money getting the preference and not the one with the experience.  We are here to earn and if we can't get a job we are not able to boost any proposal.

I hope the relevant personnel will look into this feature.

Thank you for listening.

[25005175]

The stats are from March 2022, but the evidence suggests that boosting has very, very little effect. Placebo Boosts? 

[melaniekhenson]

Occasionally I'm a client, and I agree that from this side of things, it's annoying. I don't want the spendiest freelancer, I want the best freelancer for the job.

[c896c815]

Yes

That is right

[kbadeau]

Can someone tell me (I think I saw Amanda say it, but don't want to backread the whole thread)... clients see new proposals at the top of the heap no matter what? I had used boosts because I tend to apply to jobs late (if at all) and I wanted to make sure clients saw my proposal. But if my proposal basically goes to the top anyway (except for the boosted posts) then I guess there's no point in boosting.

[feed_my_eyes]

No, she was saying that boosted proposals always do appear at the top of the list, and she doesn't like it. There would indeed be no point in boosting if that wasn't the case.

[sajal36]

That's True. But everyone want a place to get the best of the job and skills. For the same reason, people use boosted proposal to bypass the queue and be first in the queue. I would have recommended the FIFO mechanism so that early movers get the advantage of getting their proposal viewed.

 However for the client there is always a way to get the best of the talent pool by equally reviewing / screening the profile. You can use various filters combination to find the best fit for your requirement as you correctly mentioned with the example of health coach.

  How do you screen the profile - 

1. Define the multiple criteria based on Skills, experience, Rate, Location and other keyword relevant to you

2. You must appreciate that you are scrolling more as your job post is keeping many freelancer interested in the job

3.  Look at the timestamp on the profile posted. That will help you know which one is boosted.

4. Also keep an offline tracker of shortlisted / rejected so that can help you track your screening / interview

Depending on the hiring volume - The hiring is the fulltime job. If you are into multiple things than it is better to have a hiring manager to do the initial screening / fitment of the profile, may be a first level discussion too. This will save you lot of time and you can do the final interview. Believe me, I have ramped up team of 100+ team members and I have screened 3000+ resume for getting the best fit (~65% plus if not 100%) for the job.

[tlsanders]

The early mover advantage you want virtually guarantees that clients will see the worst freelancers first. After dragging through 10 or 15 proposals from people who can't get any work and so we're sitting and staring at the job feeds and able to respond instantly, they will probably give up and leave the site without ever getting 

[fahadigc]

Hey Amanda,
You're right.
The bidding is causing problems at both ends.
But the funniest part is that as a freelancer, I've seen that some clients are more attentive to the boosted proposal than non-boosted ones.

[c896c815]

yes sooo, sometime after I sent my proposal I will see that some have boost his proposal with a large some of connect it frustrated 

[lucioric]

I think that the boosted proposals is only for that the freelancers that can pay for the position, can get it (or the ones that still can afford to pay it, at this step). Clients that don't want paid proposals, but vetting the freelancers, should not be blocked to do so. Else, Upwork is converting into a platform where one can buy a project, instead of the quality jobs marketplace that distinguished it from other platforms.

[williamtcooper]

Amanda,

LOCATING TALENT: There are two major ways to locate professional freelancing talent on Upwork. Your first step is to place the job post and freelancers that closely match the post will Apply for the job. Making the job available to all freelancers will - make the job available to all freelancers. Therefore, a wider range and typical more freelancers will apply. The second option is to use the Invite Only feature. Use Upwork's Talent search feature and on the top right of the screen type your keyword. Next, on the left side of the screen narrow down the exact qualities you are seeking such as category, location, consultations, job success, amount earned, etc. and then use the Invite Only feature to invite exact freelancers that you have handpicked to apply to your job post.

[m_terrazas]

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William T C wrote:

Amanda,

LOCATING TALENT: There are two major ways to locate professional freelancing talent on Upwork. Your first step is to place the job post and freelancers that closely match the post will Apply for the job. Making the job available to all freelancers will - make the job available to all freelancers. Therefore, a wider range and typical more freelancers will apply. The second option is to use the Invite Only feature. Use Upwork's Talent search feature and on the top right of the screen type your keyword. Next, on the left side of the screen narrow down the exact qualities you are seeking such as category, location, consultations, job success, amount earned, etc. and then use the Invite Only feature to invite exact freelancers that you have handpicked to apply to your job post.

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I think Amanda doesn't need you to explain this to her.
If you've read her post, she's complaining about something else.

[d1f82042]

Perfecly Said. 

[2f863be5]

Yes please.

I'm a very experienced, published medical writer, but it's difficult to get when noticed when my proposal is at the bottom of the list.

Boosting proposals is not only unfair, it's also expensive.

[tlsanders]

How do you know your proposal is at the bottom of the list? 

[6239d3cd]

totally appretiate 

[sheveta_codeflox]

Hello Amanda,  

I am really thankful to you that you have highlighted the concern. The boosted feature is of no use to anyone other than upwork. Please upwork remove this feature. I am not able to bear my expenses now honestly. Earllier, I was making profit of $3000 per month. 

[6239d3cd]

agreed 

[lucioric]

Well said, only Upwork is being benefited by that. BUT TO ALL FREELANCERS IS BEING MUCH HARDER to get a project. And when one lands a project, ¿why not? is a scammy client. that are like on the deserved bag. But real clients are like not in the deservage for most of us.